The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says that the second stage of the eighth H3 rocket, and the satellite it was carrying, most likely reentered the Earth’s atmosphere within about four hours of the failed launch.
The rocket was carrying the Michibiki No.5 satellite for the Japanese-version of a global positioning system. It lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture on Monday. The launch ended in failure, as the satellite could not be put into its planned orbit.
At an expert panel meeting of the ministry of science and technology on Thursday, JAXA officials reported the results of their analysis of flight and other data sent from the rocket.
They said most of the rocket and satellite are believed to have burned, but some parts may not have burned and are likely to have dropped into the ocean.
They said no damage from the fallen objects has been confirmed so far.